1965 Dodge Coronet 440 - Boneyard Treasure

In this day and age, it's becoming harder and harder to find a worthwhile project car in a junkyard. Cars deteriorate just from sitting in your driveway, so you can only imagine the condition of a car that has been unattended for the past 30 years. Roy Varcoe of Sterling Heights, Michigan, was one of the lucky few to find a pot of gold in one of these rusty condition cars when his brother located this '65 Coronet 440. Roy had his work cut out for him, but over the course of eight years, he was able to bring this Coronet back to life.

The two-door hardtop was sprayed with Starlight Blue Metallic paint by Hot Rods by Dion and retains the factory trim pieces. The B-Body also received a fiberglass hoodscoop. This helps the 446ci engine ingest more air and produce approximately 450 hp. TRW flat-top pistons deliver a pump-gas-friendly 9.75:1 compression, while a Holley 750-cfm carburetor provides the fuel. The sweet tune of Dynomax exhaust trumpets from the Thorley headers into 2 1/2-inch tailpipes as it rips through the gears of its Chrysler 833 four-speed.

2/18Roy really threw the Mopar Performance parts catalog at his RB. He estimates power output around 450 hp. That should be enough to push the 3,200 pounds around quite nicely.

Roy can approach a corner with confidence when the 11 3/4-inch disc brakes apply the stopping power. A set of KYB gas shocks and a PSI front sway bar ensure the car makes it through the corner smoothly. To get all this power to both tires, Roy installed an Auburn limited-slip differential. The Coronet also wears a set of steel police wheels that have been painted the body color.

Inside, Roy gets all the information he needs from an Auto Meter tachometer and gauges sitting behind the Grant steering wheel. Paul's Auto Interior was conscripted to reupholster the interior with blue O.E.M. cloth bench seats and carpet. Thanks to these efforts, everything looks original and factory.

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Roy says, "I had doubts that I was ever going to finish the car, but I pressed on slowly and finally succeeded."

Now that Roy has finished the car, he enjoys driving it and taking it to car shows. In 2001, he drove the car to the Mopar Nationals, beginning at the Auburn Hills Walter P. Chrysler museum. The car performed "flawlessly without any problems."

Like many others, Roy can now appreciate the hard work and effort that was put into the car. Enjoy the car, Roy. Isn't that what it's all about?